Lawyer and governance commentator Ndegwa Njiru has questioned Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro over his absence during the third reading vote on the Finance Bill 2026, despite earlier criticism of the legislation in Parliament.

In a post on X on Friday, June 19, 2026, Njiru questioned Nyoro’s absence during the voting process.

“Where were you during the Voting?….. Why are you always absent when the nation needs you most? Don’t you know making a bad decision is better than refusing to make any at all?” Njiru posed.

The National Assembly passed the Finance Bill 2026 on Thursday evening, June 18, with 122 votes in favour and 40 against, with no abstentions.

Speaker Moses Wetangula announced that 103 votes were electronic and 19 manual in support, while 36 were electronic and 4 manual against. Only about 162 MPs were present out of 349, raising concerns over absenteeism during a key fiscal vote.

Nyoro’s earlier criticism of Finance Bill

Nyoro had earlier addressed Parliament on Tuesday, June 16, where he criticised the publication timeline of the Finance Bill 2026 and called for a review of past tax measures.

He questioned whether previous Finance Bills had achieved projected revenue targets and raised concerns over unmet promises, including tax relief for low-income earners below Ksh30,000.

He also urged a data-based approach to taxation policy amid rising cost-of-living pressures. His remarks came days before the final vote, when he was not present during the division.

Reactions from lawmakers and commentators

The passage of the bill followed extensive debate in the National Assembly. Government leaders, including Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and Finance Committee Chair Kuria Kimani, defended the legislation, citing public participation held across multiple counties and over 100,000 submissions received.

Opposition leaders rejected the bill, with some urging MPs to attend the vote and participate in the division process. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua described the vote as a key political moment, while Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said lawmakers were accountable to voters.

Governance commentator Willis Otieno also criticised absenteeism among MPs, arguing that failure to participate in key votes undermines parliamentary accountability.

The Finance Bill 2026 was passed with 122 votes in favour and 40 against, amid continued debate on taxation policy and legislative participation in Kenya’s fiscal decisions.